“My goal, the only thing that’s in my head, is get back to Thomas Almeida,” Morales said after UFC 209. “As respectfully as possible, but that’s the first loss and I need to avenge that loss. Realistically, that’s not going to happen in one fight, two fights, because he’s on his journey, too. But eventually, that’s what I want. The title is awesome, but I need that fight with Thomas Almeida again.”

Morales actually fought Alejandro Perez to a draw a few months back in the UFC and his record in the promotion sits at 1-1-1.Hard work pays off, something Morales believes wholeheartedly after getting his first UFC win.

“It feels amazing,” Morales said. “Hard work, dedication and perseverance, strength through adversity, all these things that I live by. And I actually got to display it (Saturday). That was the biggest thing, to be able to come back. There’s a thing I thought about after my loss, is that, ‘If I lose to my loss, then I really lost.’ So I put it in my head, I trained really hard, and I proved it tonight that I can come back and nothing can stop me. I’m just going to go back to the gym, I feel healthy, and let’s get on Anaheim (UFC 214, set for July 29).”

The bout between Morales and Soukhamthath was the fight that kicked off the UFC 209 card.